Description: This 6-week online course introduces students to the breadth of considerations, standards, and skills needed to successfully launch and manage a digital library program. The course will provide opportunity for hands-on activities to develop critical thinking and decision-making skills within the context of a digital library.
2024 Sessions
Click on a date range to register for that session.
- Session 1: January 22 – March 1
- Session 2: March 11 - April 19
- Session 3: April 29 - June 7
- Session 4: July 22 - August 30
- Session 5: September 23 - November 1
Format: Students receive login instructions one week prior to the course start date. Students have 24/7 access to the course site for the six-week period, and aside from assignment and quiz deadlines, the course may be completed at their own pace. Instructors provide guidance and feedback as students work their way through the course material. Weekly, instructor-moderated chat sessions are the only live course events that students are asked to attend.
Weekly Chat Schedule: The following times are tentative and may change according to instructor availability.
- Week 1: Thursday at 1:00 pm CT
- Week 2: Thursday at 1:00 pm CT
- Week 3: Thursday at 1:00 pm CT
- Week 4: Thursday at 1:00 pm CT
- Week 5: Thursday at 1:00 pm CT
- Week 6: Thursday at 1:00 pm CT
Learning Outcomes
Participants of this course will:
- Gain an understanding of the types of expertise and skills needed to successfully manage a digital library: such as digitization and types of digital objects, metadata, indexing/search/retrieval/, storage/architecture, user interface & interaction, preservation;
- Learn about the common platforms used by libraries to manage digital objects and make them discoverable;
- Discover the role of planning, documentation, and assessment.
Who Should Attend
Library professionals interested in developing a broad understanding of all aspects of digital library projects, from the solo practitioner responsible for all aspects of a digital library to a member of a team implementing or managing a digital library.
Instructors
- Sally Benny is the Digital Archivist at Tufts University in Medford, MA.
- Christina Deane is the Manager of the Digital Production Group at the University of Virginia Library.
- Gretchen Gueguen is an archivist and librarian specializing in digital libraries and technology and an adjunct professor for the Clarion University.
- Jane Monson is the Digital Collections Librarian at the Oregon Historical Society.
- Jennifer Roper is the Director, Digital Strategies and Scholarly Communications at the University of Virginia Library in Charlottesville, VA.
- Melde Rutledge is Digital Collections Librarian at Wake Forest University - Z Smith Reynolds Library
Registration
Cost
- $196.71 Core members;
- $224.10 ALA members;
- $249 nonmembers.
How to Register
By Mail
Register by mail using the print registration form. Tip: If you’re unable to open this “register by mail” link, right-click the link and save the form to your computer.
Questions?
For registration related questions, call 1-800-545-2433 to speak to our customer service representatives.
Registration Deadline
Registration for each course is limited to 25 people. For courses that are not sold out, online and fax registration ends at 12 noon CT on the Monday before the course begins. Mailed registration forms must be postmarked by two Mondays prior to the course start date.
Core Code of Conduct
Please review the Statement of Conduct before registering.
Tech Requirements
A Moodle-developed site is composed of self-paced modules with facilitated interaction led by the instructors. There are predetermined start and end dates and a suggested pace which include interaction with the instructors and your classmates. Students regularly use the forum and chat room functions to facilitate their class participation. Section quizzes are offered and feedback given, however, there is no final class grade.
The course website will be open for 1 week prior to the start date for students to have access to Moodle instructions and set their browser correctly. It will remain open 1 week after the end date for students to complete any sections and submit the course evaluation survey.
Credits
Contact Hours - 24 hours
Core defines contact hours in line with the IACET standards on Continuing Education Units.
Certificates of completion are sent upon successful completion (passing score of 70% or higher) of the course.
Contact
For questions about registration, contact ALA Registration by calling 1-800-545-2433 or email registration@ala.org.
For all other questions or comments related to online courses, please contact tferren@ala.org.